Interesting article discussing this question. Most of our galgos have lived to 14 years – apart from those who developed cancer, such as Sahara, Polar, Bracken and recently blind Podenco Bo. Little Podenca Bebe at 7 1/2 kg lived to 17 years. So they all had a good innings. Currently we have Podenca Andaluz Rosie at 16 1/2 kg who is 11 and will hopefully see another 4 years of love and comfort in our home.
Do you remember this boy? A rough-haired galgo badly injured in a road accident, taken to Los Infiernos refuge. He was left like this, in pain, for a few days and the owners of the refuge were going to have him euthanaised. Then Tina Solera found him (there’s 200 dogs at the refuge!) and immediately took him to the vet where he was operated on and went into foster care.
In November he travelled with two members of GRIN to the US where he is now in foster care, preparatory to him finding his forever home. He has a problem on his front elbows as a result of lying on concrete floors. They are called ‘hygromas’, and you will see the swellings in the photo.
This galga had her leg broken and was shot with an air rifle. She is being cared for at Pepis Refuge. This is her story.
‘The galga we have called Twiggy was found at Sado park hotel, Mollina, Malaga. She is 18mth old with a fantastic nature. She had her leg broken so it made it easier to shoot her with an air rifle, one pellet is deep into her stomach which cannot be removed as as an operation is too dangerous. The two pellets in her leg have been removed though the op has left a very large hole in her back leg. We are told she may never walk properly again.
News came in last week about this galga taken to a vet for urgent medical treatment. It is suspected that the wounds were caused by a dog fight. Because of their calm non-aggressive nature, galgos are often used as bait to train fighting dogs! It is possible her uteris and womb are damaged, she has been operated on and is now in a foster home in Cadiz.
Calling everyone involved in animal rescue in Andalucia. I’ve just received the following message from Scooby Medina who unfortunately are much too far away to be able to help these dogs. Can anyone go and rescue them?
‘Hello,
I am hoping you may be able to help me, I have just returned to the United States from a short trip to the Grenada region. We rented a house in the rugged countryside south of Grenada called the Lecrin Valley, we were nearest the small village of Restabal, not far from Durcal.
Further update on Ruso. He will have his operation next week.
